Whiffletree-coupling.



No. 787,219. PATBNTBD JAPB.. ll, 1905. J. R. PRING.

WHIPFLETRBE GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17. 1904.

@Mommy Patented April 11, 1905.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

.lOllN lt. PRING, OF SHAYNEE. OKLAHOUA 'lICRRI'lOR-Y, ASSIGNOR OF lfOhlY-XINE ONE-HUNDREUll-IS TO S'IANLIGY ll. BUltT, OF TOLEDO,

Oil lO.

WHlFFLETREE-COUFLING.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent NO. 787,219, dated April 11, 1905.

Application iled August 17, 1904. Serial No. 221,058.

le it known that l, JoiiNR. PniNef, a citizen otthe L'nited States ot America, residing' at Shawnee, in the county ot' Pottawatomie, Territory ot' Oklahoma, have invented a certain new and uset'ul lVhitlletree-Coupling, ot' which the following isa specitication, reference being' had therein to the accompanying' drawings.

This invention relates to \\'hitiietreecoup hugs ot that type which are designed to prol vide a pivotal coupling' connection between swing'letrees and doubletrees, between a doubletree and a pole, or between a swing'letree i and a cross-bar ot' a pair of thills. Vlu this connection the invention contemplates a coupling' ot' this character capable oi' general application as a pivotal coupling' in any relation in which it may be useful, although possessing' special utility as a coupling' tor doubletrees and swing'letrees in their oi'dinary uses.

To this end the invention has in view an iniproved t'orm ot' coupling' providing' a wide pivotal bearing' t'or the members, while at the same time securing' exceptional strength and durability. l `urthermore, the consti'uction Ot the coupling is ot' such a nature as to admit ot its application to the parts to bc coupled without the necessity ot' perforating' the tree to receive a coupling' pin or bolt, thus preserving' the t'ull strength ot' the tree, while at the same time permitting' ot' the usual pivotal l ployed.

action thereot'.

Another object ot the invention is to provide a snug' and compact arrangement ot the parts constituting the pivot so that the same may be thoroughly dust and weather proof, and in its adaptation to poles for coupling a doubletree thereto the invention possesses special utility in providing'means tor limiting the play ot' the doubletree and at the same time dispensing' with the usual stay-straps ordinarily employed for that purpose.

\\'ith these and other objects in view, the

nature ot which will more 'fully appear as the l description proceeds, the invention consists in i formed with a circulai' bearing-cup 8, having' the novel construction, combination, and arrangement ot' parts,as herein fully illustrated, described, and claimed.

ln the accompanying' drawings, Figure l is a sectional view ot the, contiguous portion of a wag'oirpole and doubletree, showing' the iniproved coupling' applied tliei'eto. Fig'. Z is a plan view of the lower or base meiiibei' of the coupling', which is litted to the pole. Fig'. 3 is a plan view ot' the upper or crown member, which is litted to the tree. Fig'. '-L is a detail perspective View ot the special forni ot coupling' pin or bolt preferably employed as a `part olt the coupling'. Fig'. 5 is a detail plan view ot' the plain lorm oll the lower or base meniber for ordinary purposes in connecting' up a swing'letree to a doubletree.

Like ret'erence-numerals designate corresponding' parts in all ligurcs ot' the drawings.

ln carrying' out the invention no change is required in thc members to be coupled, and as the invention possesses special utility as a coupling' for connecting` a doubletree to a pole the saine will be described particularly with reference to that application, although it will be understood that the functions of the pivoting' pai'ts remain the same irrespective of the members to be coupled.

Referring' particularly to Fig'. l of the drawings, the numeral l desigi'iates an ordinary wagon-pole, with which is associated in the usual relation an ordiiiary doubletree 2, and to provide for pivotally connecting' the parts together the improved coupling' conteiiiplated by the present invention may be eni- This coupling' as an entirety is interposed between the tree and the pole, as shown in Fig'. l, and essentially consists of three principal parts, to wit: the upper and lower plate members 3 and i and avspecial form otl coupling' pin or bolt These pai'ts when in assembled relation constitute the complete coupling'. The upper member 3 ot' the coupling' maybe properly termed a i pivotal cro\\'n-plate`7 of an elongated or oblong' t'orm and adapted to receive through thel pert'orations 6 at the ends thereot fastening-bolts T, which are passed throug'li the tree 2. The central portion otthe upper plate member is a central circular l)caring-opening' 9 therein, and at the upper sideotl this bearing-opening' the body ot the plate I) is formed with a circular seat of greater diameter than the opening 9. The recess of the bearing-cup 8 is surrounded by a guarding-lip 11, registering in the annular rabbet 12, formed by the side edge of a bearing-boss 13, arising from the lower plate member 4. This plate member 4 is also provided in the center thereof with a squared pin-holding opening 14, receiving the squared neck portion of the coupling-pin 5. The said neck portion 15 is surmounted by a circular pin or bolt head 16 and a journal-collar 17 of a less diameter than the head 16 and immediately adjoining the squared portion 15. The said journal-collar 17 fits in the central bearing-opening 9 of the upper plate and clamps upon the upper side of the boss 13. The pin is held clamped in this position through the medium of a binding-nut 18, mounted on the threaded lower end thereof and impinging against the under side of the pole 1. The head 16 of the coupling-pin registers ush with the circular seat 10 at the upper side of the upper plate.

In the adaptation of the coupling to a pole the lower or base member 4 is preferably provided with a longitudinally-disposed securingtongue extension 19, securely bolted or otherwise rigidly fastened to the pole, and in addition to the tongue extension 'is also formed with oppositely-projecting ear members 20. These ear members are formed in their outer ends with the arcuate guiding-slots 21, receiving the roller-sleeves 22, mounted on extensions of the fastening-bolt 7 between retaining-nuts 23, placed on said bolt extensions. From this construction it will be obvious that the doubletree is permitted its usual play with reference to the pole; but this play is restricted by the extent of play of the bolt extensions in the guiding-slots 21. Thus provision is made for dispensing with the usual stay-straps.

The form of base-plate shown in Fig. 5 is ing, an upper plate member provided with a bearing-cup registering with said boss and having a central bearing-opening, said member being also formed in its upper side with a circular seat, and a coupling-pin provided with a circular head registering in said seat, a journal-collar beneath the head and registering in the bearing-opening, and a squared neck portion engaging a squared pin-opening in the lower member.

2. In a coupling of the class described, the combination with the pole and tree, of the upper and lower plate members having a pivotal connection, and fastening-bolts connecting the upper member to the tree and provided with extensions having a limited guiding engagement with the lower plate member.

3. In a coupling of the class described, the combination with a pole and tree, of the upper and lower plate members having a pivotal connection, the lower plate member being provided with ears having guiding-slots therein, and fastening-bolts securing the upper members to the tree and carrying upon their lower ends rollers working in said guiding-slots.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. PRING.

Witnesses:

T. C. SANDERS, A. T. GRAYsoN. 

